Wherever you look in Malaga during the festive season, it seems there is a new sweet treat to tempt you. One local favorite is the chocolate coconut balls (bolitas de coco). Of course, you can buy them at the store, wrapped in brightly colored tin foil, but it’s just as easy to make them at home!
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Ingredients
Many of us remember the favorite holiday tradition of making Christmas cookies with our families. The best part was always putting colored icing on the cookies and decorating them with sprinkles. Of course, as you get older, things don't change much. Holiday sweets and baking will always be synonymous with this time of year.
Making chocolate coconut balls is one of the easiest holiday recipes you'll find, and this particular sweet is very popular in Malaga. If you like coconut, it’s a treat that’s sure to please. The best part? Few ingredients, no oven required, and you can have fun rolling the coconut into what look like little miniature snowballs!
Ingredients
Wondering what you need to make these chocolate coconut balls? It can't be any easier to whip up this Spanish treat!
- Chocolate Chips: Either milk or white chocolate works for this recipe. I recommend using the best quality chocolate you can for the best flavor.
- Condensed Milk: This thickens and sweetens the mixture, and holds it together.
- Shredded Coconut: Either sweetened or unsweetened coconut flakes works well in this recipe. It pairs beautifully with the chocolate!
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Chocolate Coconut Balls
If you’d like to see the full ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom of the post for the printable recipe card.
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave or over a double boiler. (image 1)
- Add the condensed milk to the melted chocolate and stir well. (image 2)
- Mix 100 grams of shredded coconut into the chocolate and condensed milk mixture. (image 3)
- Chill the mixture until it's hardened, about 30 minutes. Roll into small balls. (image 4)
- Roll each ball in shredded coconut. (image 5)
- Place each chocolate coconut ball in a cupcake wrapper for a pretty presentation. Enjoy! (image 6)
Recipe FAQs
Bolitas de coco are bite-sized treats made from melted chocolate, condensed milk, and coconut rolled into balls and coated in shredded coconut. It's a popular Christmas treat in Malaga!
Serve
These chocolate coconut balls are lovely as a snack or treat on their own, but they also would be great when paired with other Spanish treats as part of a Christmas gift basket or cookie swap. Try treats like honey-glazed pestiños, torrijas, mantecados, or polvorones.
Expert Tips
- Either white or milk chocolate works beautifully in this recipe.
- Store leftover chocolate coconut balls in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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Chocolate Coconut Balls (Bolitas de Coco)
Ingredients
- 5.3 ounces shredded coconut
- 1 6-ounce can condensed milk
- 8.8 ounces white or milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave or over a double boiler. Stir in the condensed milk.
- Stir 3.5 ounces (100g) of the shredded coconut into the chocolate mixture and set the rest aside for later.
- Leave the mixture in the refrigerator until the mixture thickens, about 30 minutes.
- Roll the chocolate mixture into little balls and roll in the leftover shredded coconut.
- Place each ball in a small cupcake wrapper for storage. Enjoy!
Notes
- Either white or milk chocolate works beautifully in this recipe.
- Store leftover chocolate coconut balls in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Photography by Giulia Verdinelli
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